Posting on BP and sharing real estate information with your sphere of influence (and social media) is a great way to get started.

Elk Grove market is influenced by mostly investors from the SFBA. 

Bigger Pockets has been a huge influence in getting me as far as I am as an investor.  

How much, if at all, should this influence the purchase price or decision to buy....?

But if he want's 50% of the profit for the deals that he has no influence with, than he should not have the right to say that 50% of that profit is his.

But there are many different factors that influence rents and home values independently.There are many markets where a SFH simply doesn't make a good rental.

Tuscaloosa,Selma, Montgomery and Valley Grande are just a few. in towns like Uniontown which are more rural it is not my goal to make these my sole markets, it is just one of the places to start and eventhough the property values are lower in such towns the margins are there as well as investor friendly mayors that are seeking the assistance of outside influences to help them make their towns more attractive to companies that create jobs by opening busiensses in these areas. the thing that i bring to the table is my ability to provide the financing for the conventional and fha buyers as well as by and sell the notes for the seller held transactions in addittoin to the contractors, plumber,electricians and such that i have on the sidelines.

I like with commercial that you are able to have a more direct influence over the property's value, the tenants are businesses (except for apartments which are technically commercial) and therefore you generally only have calls from your tenants during business hours, and hopefully there is less wear and tear on your investment.

I too would like to one day  influence Latino youth specifically.

Would this not be the case of a broker trying to influence you into using an agent as was my case in Georgia where selling agents told me only Brokers can transact RE Sales.